The Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Mr Michael Ring, has criticised Westport's exclusion from the National Spatial Strategy.
Mr Ring has laid the blame with "spin doctors and consultants" who, he says, "represent the biggest growth industry in Ireland today". The deputy said that as a protest he was boycotting yesterday's opening of two arts centres in Mayo by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism , Mr O'Donoghue.
"Enda Kenny or myself should have been opening those two arts centres, because we got them started," he said, referring to the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, and the Customs House Studio, Westport. Westport had been included as part of a triangle with Ballina and Castlebar in the discussion documents, Mr Ring claimed.
No explanation had been given for its subsequent exclusion, he said. "It is like the litany of broken promises from these government parties, made before the election. So we don't have a proper N5 route, we won't have the new school that is badly needed in Newport, we won't get the port development and marina that was earmarked and I could go on."
International companies such as Allergen and Baxter based in the area sustained considerable financial losses annually in damage to goods transported on the N5 via Longford, and the Government was well aware of this, Mr Ring added.
Westport did not want to see "any more reports", but wanted "money for infrastructure". "The only break that Westport ever got in recent years was the seaside resort scheme, which had good and bad effects," he said.
The president of the Westport Chamber of Commerce, Dr Ollie Whyte, said the town would be "very disappointed" if it was not now considered for a decentralised Government department, in the light of the National Spatial Strategy's decision.
The chamber was aware that the town had been discussed as part of a triangle of development with Ballina and Castlebar, he said. "I'd like to congratulate Castlebar and Ballina, because their selection must be good for Mayo. But we won't be giving up. We will continue to lobby."
Westport had a good mixed economy of industry, tourism, fishing and farming, and was a "good place to live", Dr Whyte said. "We prefer gradual, rather than explosive, development here to avoid the sort of social problems that have arisen elsewhere."
The Galway East TD, Mr Paul Connaughton (Fine Gael), criticised the exclusion of Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and said the designation of Tuam as a hub centre was only "maintaining the status quo". Tuam has already been earmarked under the RAPID programme for development. Ballinasloe had been "totally ignored and written out of the script", he said.
Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency, Mr Joe Callanan, said that Ballinasloe would benefit from its proximity to the new Athlone-Mullingar-Tullamore gateway.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv, said that the strategy upheld the right of rural dwellers to build in rural areas. Section 3.5.1 of the strategy highlighted the key role played by traditional rural-based sectors of employment in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Section 3.5.2 emphasised the importance of settlement policies and enhanced accessibility in revitalising rural communities.
These "clearly stated aims", coupled with the identification of national gateways and medium-sized hubs, laid down "clear markers for the way ahead in rural development", Mr Ó Cuiv said.
